which of the following sentences contain redundant words or phrases

Charlotte

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01-03-2025

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Identifying Redundant Words and Phrases in Sentences

Redundancy in writing involves using more words than necessary to convey a meaning. It weakens your writing and makes it less impactful. Identifying and eliminating redundant words and phrases is crucial for clear and concise communication. This article will analyze several sentences, pinpointing instances of redundancy.

What is Redundancy?

Redundancy occurs when you repeat the same idea using different words or phrases. This isn't always bad – sometimes it's used for emphasis. However, most of the time, it's unnecessary and weakens your writing. Think of it as unnecessary baggage slowing down your message.

Analyzing Sentences for Redundancy

Let's analyze some sentences to see how redundancy manifests:

Sentence 1: "The small, tiny kitten was playing."

• Redundancy: "Small" and "tiny" both describe size; one is sufficient. "Tiny kitten" already conveys the small size.

• Corrected Sentence: "The tiny kitten was playing." or "The small kitten was playing."

Sentence 2: "The reason why he failed was because he didn't study."

• Redundancy: "The reason why" and "because" are both conjunctions introducing a cause. They're functionally redundant.

• Corrected Sentence: "He failed because he didn't study." or "The reason he failed was that he didn't study."

Sentence 3: "He advanced forward to the next level."

• Redundancy: "Advanced" already implies movement forward. "Forward" is unnecessary.

• Corrected Sentence: "He advanced to the next level."

Sentence 4: "The completely full glass overflowed."

• Redundancy: If a glass is full, it's completely full by definition. "Completely" is unnecessary.

• Corrected Sentence: "The full glass overflowed."

Sentence 5: "A new innovative invention changed the world."

• Redundancy: "New" and "innovative" are almost synonyms, both implying something novel. Similarly, an "invention" is, by definition, new.

• Corrected Sentence: "An innovative invention changed the world." or "A new invention changed the world."

Sentence 6: "Despite the fact that it was raining, we went outside."

• Redundancy: "Despite the fact that" is wordy. "Despite" already implies a contrast.

• Corrected Sentence: "Despite the rain, we went outside."

Sentence 7: "At approximately 3 p.m., the meeting will begin."

• Redundancy: "Approximately" is too vague when a specific time is given.

• Corrected Sentence: "The meeting will begin at 3 p.m."

Sentence 8: "She collaborated together with her team."

• Redundancy: "Collaborated" already implies working together. "Together with" is redundant.

• Corrected Sentence: "She collaborated with her team."

Sentence 9: "It was a hot, sweltering day in July."

• Redundancy: While "hot" and "sweltering" are synonyms, it's less redundant than other examples. It emphasizes how hot the day was. This is an example where stylistic redundancy might be acceptable.

How to Avoid Redundancy

• Read your work aloud. This helps you hear awkward phrasing.

• Use a thesaurus cautiously. While it helps find synonyms, don't just swap words without considering context.

• Be mindful of common redundant phrases. Familiarize yourself with common phrases that often contain unnecessary words.

• Review your work. After writing, review your sentences to eliminate any unnecessary repetition. A fresh pair of eyes can be helpful.

By eliminating unnecessary words, you will create more concise and impactful writing. Remember, clear communication is achieved through precision, not excess.